We, like so many other families, fell in love with Conn and Hal Iggulden's The Dangerous Book for Boys last spring. The entire family poured over that darn book, and we've had ourselves a good old time with it. So when I learned that Andi and Miriam were writing The Daring Book for Girls, I was like "Oooh oooh oooh me me me me me!"

Let's pretend I was more sophisticated, and said something like "I would welcome the opportunity to review this book."

When the book arrived, I swear to God that I had barely lifted it from the packaging when my eight-year-old daughter swooped in and snagged it and ran off. I figured she'd paw through it and hand it back. Nope. It took me a week to even lay eyes on it, because she was hiding it from me, so that she could master how to be a spy and I wouldn't be hip to her new-found skills. She printed out a set of badges from the awesome website, and took both the book and the badges to school to show her third-grade class.

From the jump rope rhymes to the karate moves, from cootie catchers to sage advice on b-o-y-s, Andi and Miriam have encapsulated the best parts of my girlhood, and added a few new chapters for me to explore with my own kids. The Daring Book for Girls is skinned knees and passed notes, sleepovers and secret clubs, mixed with a healthy dose of assertiveness and inventiveness. The activities and information are at once timeless and pleasingly current. It is a recipe for adventure, and I can't think of a more perfect book for any girl in your life.

Run out and buy one for every girl on your holiday shopping list, and one for yourself, too. You may just find yourself turning cartwheels in the yard, or conducting searches on the internet for Queen Boudica.

About

Because I can't say no when people offer me the chance to check out new books, music and other stuff. Most of the items reviewed here are freebies, some are paid reviews that will nevertheless reflect my true opinions, and there will be occasional reviews of products that I've purchased on my own.